Coal scam: CBI clarifies, says it is not under any pressure

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has clarified that it is not under any pressure in the probe into the coal allocation allegations. The CBI reiterated that it is yet to file the said affidavit. "The CBI will strictly abide by the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, and is not under any pressure from any quarter," CBI said.

This comes more than 96 hours after reports that the Law Minister and the officials in the Prime Minister's Office had checked its report on the status of investigations. A report in a national daily had said the CBI status report in the coal scam was "vetted" by the Law Minister and officials of the Prime Minister's Office. The Congress had distanced itself saying the matter is pending in court. "The matter is pending in the Supreme Court and we do not interfere in court proceedings," Congress leader Rashid Alvi said.

The report said the CBI Director and others involved in preparing the coal scam report had been summoned by the Law Minister Ashwini Kumar and that the report was "toned" down. Questions have been raised about the Prime Minister's own knowledge about the entire coal scam probe report.

The Supreme Court had asked the CBI Director to file an affidavit before the court stating clearly whether the report was shared with government executives as well. The CBI had said that the story is speculative and that it has not filed any affidavit in the SC.

Aam Admi Party member and lawyer Prashant Bhushan moved the Supreme Court on Monday seeking an investigation into the coal scam by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). In his plea to the Supreme Court, Bhushan has also asked the court to look into the allegations of governmental interference in the ongoing CBI probe.